Jamie Oleksiak's Dallas Stars Profile |
Joe Vitale's Pittsburgh Penguins Profile
BOSTON -- The Northeastern men's hockey program currently boasts two alumni on National Hockey League rosters, as well as six former players in the American Hockey League. Recent weeks have been highlighted by an NHL game-winning goal, NHL and AHL call-ups, and a new AHL contract for former Huskies.
Center Joe Vitale (2005-2009) scored the game-winning goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 5-1 triumph at Florida on Nov. 30. It was Vitale's first goal of the season, and he now has seven points in 30 games for the Eastern Conference-leading Penguins. Vitale has played in 140 NHL games for the team that drafted him (seventh round in 2005, 195th overall), compiling 8-20-28 totals since his debut in the 2010-11 season. The native of St. Louis, Mo., sits 50th on the Huskies' all-time scoring list, with 24-60-94 totals in 143 games. He led the team in goals, assists and points in his junior campaign and captained the Huskies as both a junior and a senior.
Towering defenseman Jamie Oleksiak (2010-11) was called up to the Dallas Stars and made his season debut on Dec. 1. He has logged an average of 19:05 in ice time through three games, with Dallas collecting points in all three contests, going 1-0-2. The 6'7" Toronto native played 16 games for Dallas last season, his first in the NHL, picking up two assists along the way. This season with the AHL's Texas Stars Oleksiak had three goals and two assists in 22 games. He became the highest NHL draft pick in NU program history in 2011 when he was drafted 14th overall by the Stars following his freshman season. In his one year as a Husky, Oleksiak tallied 4-9-13 totals in 38 games.
Former NU netminder Brad Thiessen (2006-2009) rejoined the AHL on Nov. 28, signing with the Norfolk Admirals after beginning the season with HPK Helsinki of SM-liiga. The Aldergrove, British Columbia, native made his season debut for the Anaheim Ducks minor league affiliate on Nov. 30, making 40 saves in a 3-2 loss to the Providence Bruins. In his next game on Dec. 6, Thiessen played over half the game against the Syracuse Crunch in relief, stopping nine of nine and leading the Admirals to victory in the shootout. Thiessen had played for four seasons in the Penguins organization, appearing in five regular season games for the parent club and winning the AHL's Most Outstanding Goaltender award for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton affiliate in 2010-11. He holds the Northeastern program career records for goals against average and save percentage, as well as single-season records for games played, goals against average, save percentage, wins and saves.
Last year's Husky captain
Vinny Saponari (2011-2013) has played in four games for the Milwaukee Admirals (minor league affiliate of the Nashville Predators) since being called up from the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones, collecting one assist. After completing his senior season at NU, the wing from Powder Springs, Ga., joined the AHL's St. John's Ice Caps, scoring a goal and an assist in seven games for the Winnipeg Jets' affiliate. Saponari finished out his collegiate career with two seasons as a Husky after playing for Boston University. The former Atlanta Thrashers draft pick (fourth round in 2008, 94th overall) led last year's Huskies in assists. Saponari scored 14 goals and 38 assists for 52 points in 68 contests in the Red & Black.
Saponari is now reunited in Milwaukee with another fellow Husky in Anthony Bitetto (2010-12). The defensemen from Oceanside, N.Y., was a sixth round pick (168th overall) of the Predators in 2010. In his second season with the Admirals, he has already outdone his totals from last season (1-5-6 in 34 games) by scoring seven goals and six assists for 13 points through just 21 games. Bitetto scored a power play goal in a 5-2 triumph over the Oklahoma City Barons on Dec. 6, earning the Wisconsin Vision Highlight of the Night by snapping Milwaukee's 0-for-24 drought on the man advantage. The former Huskies assistant captain left Northeastern after his sophomore season with 7-28-35 totals in 72 collegiate games.
Wade MacLeod (2007-2011) has suited up in 15 contests for the Toronto Marlies this season, netting two goals and adding three assists for five points for the Maple Leafs' AHL club. He was recalled by the Marlies on Nov. 29 after a stint with the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears. After finishing up his senior season with the Huskies, MacLeod joined the Columbus Blue Jackets' affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, playing for them until last season. The wing from Coquitlam, British Columbia, potted 15 goals while chipping in 28 helpers for 43 points in 95 games with the Falcons. MacLeod sits 20th on the all-time Northeastern scoring list with 137 points in 149 games. He is also tied for 21st in both goals (61) and assists (76). An offensive force for the Huskies, MacLeod led the team in points in each of his last three seasons, topped the team in goals as a senior, and had the most assists in his sophomore and senior campaigns.
Steve Quailer (2008-2012) has chipped in a goal and four assists through 12 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs this year. Drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 2008 (third round, 86th overall), Quailer scored six goals and 10 points for the Habs' minor league club in 64 games last season. The winger from Arvada, Colo., skated in 105 games for the Huskies, compiling a scoring line of 21-42-63.
In his third season with the Worcester Sharks, Brodie Reid (2010-2011) has started the campaign with two goals and eight points in 17 games. Signed by the San Jose organization after his freshman season with the Huskies, the wing from Delta, British Columbia, had tallied 20 goals and 26 assists for 46 points in 100 games in Worcester entering the 2013-14 season. Reid played 37 games for Northeastern, scoring 11 goals and adding 17 assists for 28 points.
